Explosive washer



Feb. 23, 1965 R. M. VAUGHN EXPLOSIVE WASHER Filed Aug. 23, 1962INVENTOR. RUDOLPH M. VAUGHN United States, Patent 3,l7tl,365 EXPLUSWEWASHER Rudolph M. Vaughn, 611 Lido Park Drive, Newport Beach, Calif.Filed Aug. 23, 1962, Ser. No. 218,974 1 Claim. (Cl. 85-50) Thisinvention relates broadly to explosive means for separating members andmore particularly to a novel explosive washer for use with boltsemployed to fasten first and second members together for separating themembers at a predetermined time.

Explosive means for separating members such as successive stages inmissiles are well known in the art. Generally, these devices arereferred to as explosive bolts and comprise a combination fasteningdevice in the form of a bolt incorporating some type of explosive means.At a pre-determined time, the bolt may be destroyed by the explosive.thereby enabling separation of the members.

In the case of such explosive bolts, the bolt itself must include hollowportions to incorporate a suitable explosive. Thus, the integrity of thebolt as a fastening device is compromised. In other words, if the boltis designed to rupture, it cannot serve its function as a fasteningdevice as well as a conventional bolt.

To avoid weakening of the bolt of the above type beyond a certaintolerance, it is common practice to make the hollow portions relativelysmall in volume. As a result, the explosive employed must be highlysensitive to provide sufiicient power to rupture the bolt. Theexplosives used, accordingly, are dangerous compared to conventionalexplosives.

In addition to the foregoing, the bolts themselves are relativelyexpensive since they must be tailored to incorporate suitable explosivematerial. Thus, in any situation in which two members are rigidly heldtogether by conventional type screws or bolts and it is desired toincorporate explosive bolts, the members may have to be modified toaccommodate the particular type of explosive bolts available.

With all of the foregoing considerations in mind, it is a primary objectof this invention to provide a novel explosive means for enablingseparation of members secured together.

More particularly, it is an object to provide a novel explosive meansfor performing an identical function to that of an explosive bolt but inwhich the means such as a bolt employed for fastening members togetherto be ultimately separated may be of a conventional type and thus itsstrength in no manner weakened as a consequence of its ultimatedestruction by the explosive means.

Another object is to provide an explosive structure meeting theforegoing ends in which less sensitive explosive material may beemployed for a given explosive force than has been required inconventional type explosive bolts to the end that greater safety inhandling of the ex plosive structure is realizable.

Still another important object of this invention is to provide anexplosive structure adaptable to conventional type bolts.

Another object is to provide an explosive means which is considerablymore economical to manufacture than conventional exploding type bolts.

Briefly, these and many other objects and advantages of this inventionare attained by providing an explosive washer rather than an explosivebolt. This washer constitutes an annular hollow member incorporatingexplosive material and having a central opening to receive a bolt in themanner of a conventional washer. The washer may be positioned betweenone of the members and the bolt head or between one of the members and anut receivable on the end of the bolt shank. In either event, theexplosive incorporated Within the washer may be of any desired amountsnfiicient to destroy the bolt and effect separation of the members.

By the foregoing arrangement, the bolt itself need not be tampered withand may constitute a conventional bolt of solid material so that thedesired holding strength is realized. On the other hand, because theexplosive structure constitutes a separate item such as the washer, itis readily adaptable to many different types of bolts and may also beprovided considerably more economically than conventional explodingbolts.

A better understanding of the invention will be had by now referring toa preferred embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view partly cut away illustrating aconventional bolt for securing together first and second members withthe explosive washer of this invention; and,

FIGURE 2 is a cut-away exploded perspective view of the basic elementsmaking up the explosive washer illustrated in FIGURE 1.

Referring first to FIGURE 1, there are illustrated first and secondmembers ill and ll secured together by a conventional type bolt 12. Asshown, the bolt 12 passes through aligned openings in the members Illand Ill and receives a nut 13 at one end. The bolt includes an enlargedhead 14 at its other end which ordinarily would abut against theperiphery of the opening in the member ll. However, in accordance withthe present invention, the equivalent of an explosive bolt is providedby in corporating an explosive washer-like member 15 between the head 14and the member ll. It should be understood that the Washer 15 could bepositioned between the member 10 and the nut 13 if desired or evenbetween the members 10 and 11. Regardless of the particular placement,the washer 15 is designed, in accordance with the present invention, tocompletely destroy the bolt 12 and thus separate the members ill and Hat a pre-determined time. Towards this end, there are provideddetonating means in the form of lead wires 16 extending from theexplosive washer 15 for receiving an electrical det-onating signal atthe time it is desired to separate the members.

Referring now to the exploded view of FIGURE 2, the details of theexploded washer of this invention are illustrated. As shown, the Washerconstitutes an annular member made up of a cylindrical casing 17. Thiscasing includes a central opening 18 for receiving the bolt, and innerand outer radially spaced annular grooves 19 and 20. Also included is acentral annular V-ohaped channel 21 having sloping walls 22 and 23terminating in a lower apex 24. Explosive material such as a shapedcharge 25 is incorporated in the V-shaped channel 21. The detonatingwires 16 as shown extend into the explosive material.

The washer member also includes a cover 25 having a central opening 27adapted to register with the open ing 18 when assembled on top of thecasing 17. As shown, the cover 25 includes inner and outer annularflanges 2S and 2? extending normally downwardly from the cover 26 andradially spaced from each other in positions to be received and securedwithin the inner and outer annular grooves 19 and 20 of the casing 17,respectively. The fitting of the flanges 2% and 29 within the grooves 19and 20 may be forced so that once the cover 26 is placed over the casing17, the explosive material in the form of the shaped charge 25 issecurely confined within the washer structure. There thus results aconveniently useable washer which may receive any type of screw orfastening device through its central open- Patented Feb. 23, 1965- e3ing and be employed in the manner illustrated in FIG- URE 1.

In operation, when it is desired to separate first and second memberssuch as the members it and 11, an electrical signal is applied to theleads 16 which will detonate the shaped charge 25. The explosive forcewill be directed normally from the surface blowing the cover 26 from thewasher and completely destroying the bolt head and portion of the boltsecuring the members together. In the event the washer were incorporatedunder the nut 13, the action of the explosion would be such as to blowthe nut from the end of the bolt.

It will be evident that as a consequence of using a separable explosivewasher, the integrity of the bolt itself is not affected since nointerior hollow portions need be made therein to incorporate explosivematerial. Further, since the only function of the washer is to hold theexplosive material, a relatively large amount of explosive material maybe provided so that less sensitive explosives may be used to effect thesame explosive force as is possible with conventional type explosivebolts. As a consequence, the washer is safer to handle than explosivetype bolts incorporating more sensitive explosive material.

Finally, it will be clear that the washer may be used with anyconventional type bolt and nut so that no modification of existingequipment is necessary to provide an explosive separation means.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been set forth anddescribed, the explosive washer is not to be thought of as limited tospecific details set forth merely for illustrative purposes.

What is claimed is:

An explosive washer for separating first and second members heldtogether by a bolt comprising, in combination: a cylindrical casinghaving a central opening through which said bolt may loosely pass, saidcasing including radially spaced inner and outer anular grooves and acentral annular channel of substantially V-shape in cross-sectiondisposed radially between said inner and outer annular grooves; anexplosive charge filling said channel; a circular shaped cover memberhaving a central opening adapted to register with said first mentionedcentral opening and including radially spaced inner and outer annularflanges extending normally from said cover in positions to be receivedand secured within said inner and outer annular grooves of said casing,respectively, to confine said explosive charge in said central annularchannel; and detonating wire means extending from said explosive chargethrough said casing to the exterior thereof for detonating said chargeafter said washer has been positioned about said bolt whereby said boltis destroyed to separate said members.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,046,949 7/36Horner.

2,871,750 2/59 Parrish.

2,883,910 4/59 Nessler 891.01 X 2,960,902 11/60 De Caro.

EDWARD C. ALLEN, Primary Examiner.

ARTHUP M. HORTON, Examiner.

